Chapter 441: No Longer a Youth_1

Betrand brought back many people from space, but Blue Maiden Star was like a bottomless hole, seemingly always short on hands.

Before departure, the Governing Council had allocated crew for each ship, ensuring that even if only one civilian ship survived, all industrial professions were fairly comprehensive.

Therefore, there wasn't any technical difficulty in industrial production now; the issue was simply that the initial spread was too wide, and various positions had been short-staffed from the start.

However, Jiang Yu's production goals had not been lowered; aside from producing Star Accelerators, warships, and civilian ships, he also produced a large number of Interstellar Probes.

This batch of Interstellar Probes was almost the same as the first batch launched to the New Continent Star System decades ago, capable of interstellar exploration.

Jiang Yu ordered a large number of probes to chase after the enemy fleet, ensuring that on all sides of the enemy fleet there would be human probes dedicated to detecting signals emitted by the enemy.

At the same time, Jiang Yu also ordered many probes to scout in the direction from which the enemy's fleet came to the New Continent Star System.

Searching one planetary system after another along this route to see if the enemy's home planet or the system they departed from could be found.

In the blink of an eye, it came to Shelter 37 Year; Blue Maiden Star had been engrossed in production for two years, and there were now enough Star Accelerators for everyone to undertake interstellar travel.

Additionally, in the previous battles, many civilian ships had successfully ejected their escape pods before exploding, and Blue Maiden Star had manufactured over a hundred more civilian ships for those who survived through the escape pods to use.

They also produced over a thousand warships, achieving basic self-defense capabilities.

However, the problem was that the enemy fleet, located about 0.3 astronomical units from Blue Maiden Star, still hadn't broadcast universally!

Logically, this should be good news, but it was far too abnormal!

This sort of abnormality made people very worried, as it always felt like the enemy was holding back some powerful move!

Jiang Yu had discussed this with Number Three and others from the Solar System many times, yet they had never reached a conclusive decision.

Humanity was somewhat troubled by the enemy's baffling moves: Should the colonization of the New Continent Star System be continued?

Because of this question, Jiang Yu used the real-time communication system to convene a high-level meeting of the Solar System State.

Cao Yang and Hao Ying and others believed that the colonization should continue, with Cao Yang expressing his thoughts, "Our production and construction over the past two years have far exceeded our plans before departure.

"The most critical point is that the industrial system is now mature, possessing the capability to build Space Cities and interstellar colonies."

Hao Ying added from the side, "With our current abilities, we are confident that within ten years we can build a more professional and more massive industrial system in space.

"And construct a Space City capable of housing thirty million people!

"With these places, we can carry out further immigration, broader production, and build more space cities!"

"The most critical point is!" Cao Yang continued, "If we now produce warships at full capacity, within three years we could have the ability to eliminate all the enemy's fleets!

"As long as we wipe out all enemies privy to our whereabouts, the New Continent Star System will be safe!

"We all know, this star system is an excellent space for human development; if not for its peculiar orbit, I believe civilizations would have emerged here long ago."

Hao Ying supplemented, "We've conducted preliminary explorations on the planets within the habitable zones inside and outside Blue Maiden Star, and you've all seen the related reports—both planets are fairly stable and suitable for human immigration.

"Everybody knows that among the initial explorations, only the New Continent Star System is the most suitable for humanity's long-term development."

However, there was a different viewpoint from the Solar System; Bernice thought it was too risky, "If the New Continent Star System suffers a Dark Forest Strike, humanity will find themselves in an awkward situation.

"If the Solar System is destroyed and the New Continent Star System is inaccessible, humans will have no home!

"At that time, we might only have the option to become a fleet civilization or take even greater risks to colonize a new planetary system."

Cao Yang argued, "We should take the risk; otherwise, according to the backup plan, humanity would have to abandon a large number of fellow beings."

Number Three, however, said, "This concerns the future of humanity, how can we dare to take such a risk?"

Someone suggested, "Can we not execute both plans simultaneously?"

Jiang Yu, Cao Yang, and others continued to object in unison, "No!"

There was a moment of stunned silence before Jiang Yu added, "We do not have the time to attend to both, we must either implement one of the plans, or once again divide the Solar System State."

Everyone's heart sank at this; essentially, the Solar System State had already been divided once.

The wandering Earth was part of the Solar System State, with another part being the forces left within the Solar System, and now Blue Maiden Star could only be considered an extension of the Solar System's power.

But when Jiang Yu and his people had established a new home on Blue Maiden Star, and Bernice and others had built their homes in other star systems, then the Solar System State would surely be divided again!

A Solar System State split into three parts would be much weaker than it is now.

Especially after such splits become habitual, humanity would have a hard time concentrating their strength to face the harsh Dark Forest.

This was a passive coping mechanism that Jiang Yu did not wish to see.

The group had discussed this for over a month, and it was simply a waste of time.

At the end of the meeting, Jiang Yu issued a direct command, "The Pioneering Fleet organized by the Solar System for the New Star System must set out as quickly as possible!

"The backup plan to colonize the Planetary System and the New Continent Star System has three light-years of overlap in terms of location.

"They can break off light-speed travel at the three light-year mark and wait for further orders.

"Subsequent immigration work should also proceed in this manner, three years' time is enough for us to make a firm decision!"

This proposal garnered everyone's support.

Now, with time pressing, some action had to be taken, even before the plan was finalized.

The meeting concluded, and hardly had Jiang Yu returned to his own room when Cao Yang and Hao Ying followed.

Due to limited conditions, everyone's dwelling also served as their personal office.

Jiang Yu's quarters were only a few square meters in size, where besides the bed and desk that could be folded into the wall, there was nothing but the cold metal walls.

As Cao Yang and Hao Ying entered, the floor suddenly raised, forming two comfortable chairs.

Jiang Yu invited them to sit, "I know why you've come to see me, this strategic issue concerns humanity's development plan for the next century, as well as humanity's future.

"Although I have the authority to have Bernice and Number Three execute your plan, it is the responsibility of that power that stops me from taking this risk, and I hope you will not take the risk either.

"We need to discuss it more, the science academy needs to conduct a more comprehensive assessment before making a decision!"

Cao Yang sighed, "In the past, you, you always managed to make the right decisions quickly, but now, now…"

In the past Jiang Yu had God's View, and now Jiang Yu wanted to give humanity a better future.

He smiled and said, "Each of us is facing the universe's test for the first time, the previous cosmic broadcast has put immense pressure on us, our decisions in the coming decades cannot afford any mistakes!

"So I need to be more cautious, all of us who make decisions must be more cautious!"

Just then, an emergency call was initiated from the command center.

After Jiang Yu connected, the wall in front of them turned into a display, and on the other end, Betrand reported, "We've discovered a new 'Hole'! Right on Base Island!"